MENU

Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 1

Consul General Sales with Commissioner Kevin Falconer

 

Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 2 Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 3

Consul General Sales with Mayor Babick and State Representative Candidate Ms. Averie Bishop

In a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area at the end of September 2024, Consul General Gunther Emil Sales met with Denton County Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Falconer, Carrollton City Mayor Steve Babick, and Ms. Averie Bishop, a Filipino-American candidate for a seat in the Texas State House of Representatives in the upcoming U.S. national elections.

Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 4

The meeting between Consul General Sales and Commissioner Falconer focused on strengthening ties with the Filipino-American community. Discussions included a recent successful consular outreach mission by the Philippine Consulate General in Lewisville, Texas, supported by the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACCTX), which provided essential services to the local Filipino community.

The meeting also covered potential sister city agreements, disaster response collaboration, expanding academic partnerships between U.S. and Philippine universities, and the upcoming Filipino-American History Month in October.

Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 5

Consul General Sales with Mayor Steve Babick of Carrollton, Council Member Rowena Waters, Consul Gilbert Segarra, and leaders of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACCTX) - DFW and Pilipino American Community Endeavor (PACE).

A meeting also took place between Mayor Babick and Consul General Sales during which they discussed potential collaborations in cultural exchanges and economic cooperation. Mayor Babick presented Carrollton's commitment to diversity and economic growth, highlighting the city's robust industrial sector and redevelopment initiatives.

Both officials talked about the possibility of a sister-city agreement with a city in the Philippines, as well as future trade missions and cooperation in agriculture, energy, and urban best practices. Filipino community leaders, represented by the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACCTX), proposed projects such as the establishment of a Filipino community center in the locality and a Bataan March memorial in honor of Filipino and American veterans.

Meeting with Falconer Babick and Bishop 6

During his visit, Consul General Sales also met with Ms. Averie Bishop, a Filipino-American running for state representative of Texas House District 112. Ms. Bishop is a 26-year-old law graduate and former Miss Texas 2022.

Ms. Bishop shared key areas of her political platform, focusing on women’s rights and reproductive health, public school funding, campaign finance, public safety, immigration, and ethical AI standards. Despite the tight race with her Republican opponent in a historically Republican-held district, she remains unfazed and optimistic about her campaign, emphasizing why this is important as well for Filipino-Americans and Asian Americans, in general.

She also spoke about her background and experiences as the first Asian American and Filipino Miss Texas, and how her advocacy work during that time influenced her decision to enter into politics.

Consul General Sales commended Ms. Bishop for joining politics at an early age, thereby inspiring young leaders and enhancing greater political representation from the FIlipino diaspora. (END)

04 October 2024